Monday, March 27, 2017

(Newport, RI)- We are pleased to share several updates as the J/121
project transitions from the tooling-only phase into the initial
production of hull #1.

Tooling/Production Update
The hull mold was vacuum tested last week to ensure an air-tight fit - a
critical component in the resin infusion molding process. The hull mold
surfaces were then waxed in final preparation for the molding of the
first hull. The boot stripes and flanges are shown being taped off in
this photo earlier this week.

And presto, hull #1 begins molding! The light grey boot stripes were
applied first, and then the white gelcoat sprayed into the hull molds.
The two molds will be joined before the laminate and core is placed and
the hull infused.

Once
the hull is molded (upon “de-molding”), it will be placed into a
special hull jig for the installation of the structural bulkheads. The
“green jig” was recently built using the master hull plug seen in the
background. This picture nicely shows off the J/121’s planing hull
shape.

Meanwhile, back in the prototype shop, the nonskid surface was applied
to the deck plug. The finish is “sand-style” which will yield excellent
traction on the final molded deck.

Southern Spars named J/121 Spar Supplier
We’re pleased to confirm that Southern Spars has been named the official
J/121 spar package supplier. We’ve been impressed with the level of
detail and expertise the Southern design and engineering team has
brought to the initial phase of the project and are very excited to have them onboard. BSI Global Rigging of
Portsmouth, RI will be providing the standing rigging package.

One-Design Sail Package
Our team has been working with sail designers at leading sailmakers to
develop the “J/121 Class inventory”- similar to the process we followed
developing the J/70 sail program. The objective of the J/121 Class
inventory is to:

identify the core inventory of sails that every J/121 team will want no matter the kind of racing

to meet the J/121 design mandate of creating a high performance,
offshore-capable 40 footer that can be handled by 5 or fewer crew

have all the J/121 programs start with the same core inventory so that owner/class events can quickly develop.

The five sail inventory is comprised of: Mainsail with two reefs, #1
Furling Jib, #4 Inner Jib, Code 0 spinnaker, and A2 spinnaker. For class
events the jibs and the Code 0 must be furlable and the A2 either
snuffable or furlable. Based on our own testing and sailmaker input, for
hull #1, we are planning to go with a top-down furler for the Code 0,
bottom up furlers for the two jibs, and a snuffer for the A2.

We are organizing a “turn-key” J/121 “class package” to be offered as a
J/Boats option- to include the standard J/121 with the 5-sail class
inventory, a Code 0 furler, an Inner jib furler, an A2 snuffer, a
wet-sanded racing bottom job, an instrument prep package (pre-wire mast,
install two thru-hulls and installed Jefa auto-pilot radial drive), and
a starter docking/safety package. For more J/121 Offshore speedster sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.